Heat insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods

ABSTRACT

A heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising a carrier frame to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods, means supporting said frame from underneath, and withdrawable walls of flexible heatinsulating material extending around and over said carrier frame, said walls being lowerable from a top position to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier frame with said carrier frame maintained in an unchanged position. The protective cover is preferably provided with means for the supply of temperature controlled air to the space under the protective cover and with means for forming a free space between said cover and the stored goods, so as to ensure circulation of the temperature controlled gas in the protective cover.

United States Patent [191 Sund [ Sept. 10, 1974 HEAT INSULATING PROTECTIVE COVER FOR TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE GOODS [76] Inventor: Erik Ivar Sund, Valhallavagen 134,

114 41 Stockholm, Sweden [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,622

[52] US. Cl 98/32, 168/84, 135/8, 165/46, 62/530, 62/261 [51] Int. Cl F24f 13/00 [58] Field of Search 168/84 R; 135/8; 165/46; 62/530, 261; 98/32 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,003 10/1938 Morrison 62/261 2,891,562 6/1959 Krinzynski.. 135/8 3,256,931 6/1966 Oijerholm 165/46 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 38,908 5/1931 France 98/32 667,158 6/1929 France 98/32 1,061,791 3/1967 Great Britain 98/32 I I1 1 I I I I I I l I l I I I l I I I I I I l 4 Primary ExaminerWilliam J. Wye Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [5 7] ABSTRACT A heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising a carrier frame to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods, means supporting said frame from underneath, and withdrawable walls of flexible heatinsulating material extending around and over said carrier frame, said walls being'lowerable from a top position to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier frame with said carrier frame maintained in an unchanged position.

The protective cover is preferably provided with means for the supply of temperature controlled air to the space under the protective cover and with means for forming a free space between said cover and the stored goods, so as to ensure circulation of the temperature controlled gas in the protective cover.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures HEAT INSULATING PROTECTIVE COVER FOR TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE GOODS The present invention relates to a heat insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, particularly food products or the like, which are to be stored temporarily for a short time in connection with the transport from one place to another.

Heat insulating transport containers for temperature sensitive goods are previously known, said transport containers being so designed that they can be folded in order to reduce space requirements for storage or return transport. However, said containers are designed to enclose the goods during the transport thereof and are inconvenient for a temporary storage of temperature sensitive goods for a short time in a room which is not temperature controlled.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a heat-insulating protective cover which easily can be positioned over goods stored on a load area and which can be adapted according to the height of the load without complicated adjustment operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide the protective cover with means for supplying temperature controlled gas to the interior of said protective cover and to ensure free entrance of said gas into said cover and free circulation in said cover.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described below more closely with reference to the attached drawing, on which FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a protective cover according to the invention, which is positioned over a pallet, and FIG. 2 shows a side view of the protective cover according to FIG. 1 with the pallet loaded with goods.

FIG. 1 shows a pallet designed to allow the transport of goods by means of a fork truck or the like, a protective cover being provided over the pallet. The protective cover comprises a carrier frame 11, along the sides of which there are provided walls 12 of flexible heat-insulating material. Said walls are connected at their top edges to the carrier frame 11 and also to a layer 13 of heat-insulating material extending over the carrier frame so that a heat-insulating hood is formed. At the bottom edges of the walls lift ropes 14 are attached, which extend from the bottom edges of the walls up to the carrier frame 11 and there are connected to a common pull rope 15 so as to provide for simultaneous lifting of all the walls to an upper position adjacent the carrier frame. Said lift ropes run along the walls 12 through guide members in the form of eyelets 16 or the like, so that when lifting of the walls the material of the walls is folded, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The lower edges of the walls are provided with rings 17, which are adapted to be hooked on hooks 18 on the pallet, whereby a well heat-insulated space is formed between the carrier frame 11 and the pallet 10.

The carrier frame 11 is adapted to rest on the goods loaded onto the pallet 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and is provided with a number of support legs 19 for this purpose. When the pallet has a rectangular load surface, the carrier frame is preferably also rectangular, one support leg 19 being provided at each corner of the frame. An arbitrary number of support legs may, however, be used, the substantial feature being only that the carrier frame can be supported sufficiently stable.

The carrier frame 11 is also provided with means 20 for the supply of a suitable medium for the control of the temperature within the protective cover. The medium is preferably air, which is heated or cooled in a separate apparatus. By supplying air of a suitable temperature, the temperature in storage room under the protective cover can be accurately controlled within the desired limits. Thus, it is evident that the protective cover can be utilized for providing a temperature under the protective cover, which is either higher or lower than the ambient temperature.

When temperature controlled air is to be supplied to the protective cover, it is important that the air can pass freely into the cover and circulate under the cover before the discharge. When the air is supplied at the top of the cover, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a free 7 space should be provided between the inlet and the top surface of the goods. This can easily be obtained by making the legs 19 of sufficient length, so that the frame will be supported at a sufficient distance from the top surface of the goods.

In the embodiment illustrated, the pallet is designed to allow discharge of air, so that a suitable circulation of air through the cover can be obtained. The discharge of excess air can, however, be performed in many the goods ways, then through a valve in one of the walls.

The protective cover according to the present invention can in a very simple manner be positioned over goods resting on a pallet or on a floor surface by placing the carrier frame on the top surface of the goods and then lowering the flexible walls, until they abut the load surface of the pallet or a floor surface. In the same manner, theprotective cover can easily be removed by lifting the flexible walls and then removing the carrier frame from the goods. The supply tube for the temperature controlled air is conveniently connected to a refrigerating or heating apparatus by means of a flexible hose, so that it is not necessary to disconnect the hose each time the protective cover is to be removed. However, the connection with the protective cover should be easily releasable, so that a disconnection can be made rapidly. While it is very convenient to design the carrier frame so that it can rest on the top surface of the goods, it is also possible to provide the frame with long legs, which can rest on the floor or on the pallet. It is also possible to design the cover so as to protect several loaded pallets. If one or more pallets are inserted in a rack, the frame can be designed to rest on the rack, so that the rack will replace the supporting legs.

What is to be claimed is:

l. A heat-insulated, protectively-covered article, comprising:

at least one pallet having a quantity of goods to be heat insulated stacked thereon;

a carrier frame having a plurality of depending support legs which rest upon said stacked goods to removably support said carrier frame upon the stacked goods;

a hood constructed of heat-insulating material, mounted on the carrier frame and covering over the upper end of the stacked goods at a distance held spaced above said upper end by said support legs and said carrier frame;

a plurality of flexible sidewalls constructed of heatinsulating material, said sidewalls having upper edges adjoining the periphery of said hood and hangingly supported by said carrier frame to skirt the stacked goods;

lift rope means secured to said flexible sidewalls for facilitating the raising of said sidewalls toward the upper edges thereof to furl them and expose the stacked goods and for lowering said sidewalls to skirt the stacked goods, said sidewalls, when lowered, having lower edges adjoining said at least one pallet;

cooperative securement means on said sidewalls and on said at least one pallet for removably retaining the lower edges of the sidewalls in adjoining relation to the at least one pallet; and

inlet opening means into the hood for conducting temperature controlling gas into said article above said stacked goods.

2. A removable heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising:

a carrier frame adapted to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods;

liftable and lowerable walls of flexible heat-insulating material extending around said carrier frame, said walls being lowerable to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier frame;

a layer of heat-insulating material connected to the top edges of said walls extending over said carrier frame;

said carrier frame being provided with means for supply of temperature controlled gas to the space within said protective cover; and

said carrier frame being provided with supporting means, adapted to rest against the top surface of the goods, so that a free space is formed between said carrier frame and the top surface of the goods, so as to ensure free circulation of the temperature controlled gas in said protective cover.

3. A protective cover as claimed in claim 2, in which lift ropes are attached to the bottom edges of said flexible walls and extend up to said carrier frame, said lift ropes being connected to a common pull rope.

4. A removable heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising:

a carrier adapted to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods;

hoistable walls of flexible heat-insulating material extending around said carrier, said walls being lowerable from a top position to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier;

a layer of heat-insulating material connected to the top edges of said walls and extending over said carrier;

means for supplying temperature controlled air to the space within said cover; and

supporting legs attached to said carrier for supporting said carrier from underneath and ensuring a free circulation of the air in said cover. 

1. A heat-insulated, protectively-covered article, comprising: at least one pallet having a quantity of goods to be heat insulated stacked thereon; a carrier frame having a plurality of depending support legs which rest upon said stacked goods to removably support said carrier frame upon the stacked goods; a hood constructed of heat-insulating material, mounted on the carrier frame and covering over the upper end of the stacked goods at a distance held spaced above said upper end by said support legs and said carrier frame; a plurality of flexible sidewalls constructed of heat-insulating material, said sidewalls having upper edges adjoining the periphery of said hood and hangingly supported by said carrier frame to skirt the stacked goods; lift rope means secured to said flexible sidewalls for facilitating the raising of said sidewalls toward the upper edges thereof to furl them and expose the stacked goods and for lowering said sidewalls to skirt the stacked goods, said sidewalls, when lowered, having lower edges adjoining said at least one pallet; cooperative securement means on said sidewalls and on said at least one pallet for removably retaining the lower edges of the sidewalls in adjoining relation to the at least one pallet; and inlet opening means into the hood for conducting temperature controlling gas into said article above said stacked goods.
 2. A removable heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising: a carrier frame adapted to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods; liftable and lowerable walls of flexible heat-insulating material extending around said carrier frame, said walls being lowerable to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier frame; a layer of heat-insulating material connected to the top edges of said walls extending over said carrier frame; said carrier frame being provided with means for supply of temperature controlled gas to the space within said protective cover; and said carrier frame being provided with supporting means, adapted to rest against the top surface of the goods, so that a free space is formed between said carrier frame and the top surface of the goods, so as to ensure free circulation of the temperature controlled gas in said protective cover.
 3. A protective cover as claimed in claim 2, in which lift ropes are attached to the bottom edges of said flexible walls and extend up to said carrier frame, said lift ropes being connected to a common pull rope.
 4. A removable heat-insulating protective cover for temperature sensitive goods, comprising: a carrier adapted to be positioned over the top surface of the temperature sensitive goods; hoistable walls of flexible heat-insulating material extending around said carrier, said walls being lowerable from a top position to abutment against a goods carrying surface under said carrier; a layer of heat-insulating material connected to the top edges of said walls and extending over said carrier; means for supplying temperature controlled air to the space within said cover; and supporting legs attached to said carrier for supporting said carrier from underneath and ensuring a free circulation of the air in said cover. 